Some days, it is as if America has forgotten the past 50 years or so- and nowhere has that been more apparent over the course of the past decade than in state legislatures throughout the country. Today’s story out of Texas, however, raises the bar for simple jackassery, abandonment of common sense and ridiculousness, as lawmakers decide the rights of women to access safe healthcare options.

State troopers are confiscating tampons, maxi pads and other potential projectiles from those who are entering the Texas capitol to watch the debate and vote on a controversial anti-abortion bill. Guns, however, which are typically permitted in the state capitol, are still being allowed.

Several people tweeted that troopers were taking the objects before allowing entrance into the gallery.

Rick Perry‘s Texas Republican state government continues to embarrass itself, demean and wage war on its women citizens. As if calling into a special session the Texas state legislature for the sole purpose of closing 37 of the 42 women’s clinics that are qualified to perform abortions, leaving only five in the nation’s second-largest and second-most populous state weren’t bad enough, this afternoon Texas state troopers confiscated maxi-pads and tampons from scores of women who wanted to attend the anti-abortion debate.

According to Jessica Luther, a freelance writer and pro-choice activist who has been coordinating much of the push-back to the proposed abortion restrictions over the past few weeks, Senate officials are confiscating any objects they believe may cause a similar disruption in the gallery during Friday’s vote. Protesters aren’t allowed to carry water bottles or even feminine hygiene products, just in case they might throw them at lawmakers.

Even though the Texas legislature may not be comfortable with feminine hygiene products, it’s a bit more relaxed when it comes to firearms. Individuals with concealed carry licenses are permitted to bring their guns into the Senate gallery. In fact, a Texas Republican recently insinuated he might do just that during the current special session.

As the Texas Senate took up debate on controversial abortion legislation today, security at the statehouse confiscated tampons, maxi pads, and other potential items that could be thrown from women entering the building.

It sparked what’s surely one of the most unusual hashtags ever on Twitter: #tampongate.

And so with this in mind, an online game of substituting “Tampon” for “gun/arms/weapons” in famous quotes oft used by gun rights advocates just writes itself.

A quick sampling:

“A militia, when properly formed, are in fact the people themselves and include all (wo)men capable of bearing tampons.” – Richard Henry Lee

“The floor debate started with Senator Glenn Hegar laying out HB 2, which was substituted for SB 1 after passing the House.

Senator Royce West peppered Hegar with questions about his support for a woman’s right to choose. Hegar danced around the issue, citing Roe as precedent. Hegar did not come right out and call for Roe to be overturned or state his own personal opposition to abortion rights, though he has previously campaigned on overturning Roe v Wade.

As debate continued, Senator Bob Deuell made the charming remark that low-income abortion seekers are “unsophisticated patients” who need the legislature’s help.

Yes, Senator Deuell actually said that poor and less-educated women need the legislature to make decisions for them.”

PERRY CAMPAIGN SAYS FOREIGNERS NOT ALLOWED AT TOWN HALL EVENTAccording to an Associated Press reporter, the Perry campaign refused to let foreigners attend a town hall event with the candidate in New Hampshire today. Campaign staffers inquired about reporters’ citizenship status at the door, explaining that only U.S. citizens were allowed.

You know, when thrice married/serial adulterer Newt Gingrich manages to pull himself out of Tiffany’s long enough to criticize Herman’s “Anita Hill endorsement” joke, you know the clock is ticking for Cain’s chances for winning the GOP nomination.

First, let’s start with “also ran” Rep. Michelle Bachmann (R-MN), who “wouldn’t do anything” for the children of undocumented immigrants.

At a campaign stop in Iowa, a Latino college student asked the presidential hopeful what she would do to the children of undocumented immigrants. Bachmann reiterated her hard-line stance that the federal government should not grant them citizenship and said she “would not do anything” for them.”Their parents are the ones who brought them here … they did not have the legal right to come to the United States,” she said. “We do not owe people who broke our laws to come into the country. We don’t owe them anything.”

When the subject turned to immigration at another campaign stop that day, Bachmann suggested passing a law that would bar citizenship to children born in the U.S. to parents who are undocumented immigrants. “We’ve got to end this anchor baby program,” she said.

The New York Sun reported on one of the ads that focused on abortion:“Black babies are terminated at triple the rate of white babies,” a female announcer in one of the ads says, as rain, thunder, and a crying infant are heard in the background. “The Democratic Party supports these abortion laws that are decimating our people, but the individual’s right to life is protected in the Republican platform. Democrats say they want our vote. Why don’t they want our lives?”